Aiken home repair fund provides up to $5,000 for seniors

The Aiken Council of Neighborhoods launched a home repair program in Aiken, South Carolina, to assist elderly residents with urgent property maintenance.

The initiative uses a $75,000 city grant derived from plutonium settlement funds. This money helps homeowners aged 60 and older who live in the city limits and reside in low- to moderate-income neighborhoods or on the north side of town.

The program targets essential repairs that affect safety, security, and livability, such as fixing sewage backups, replacing roofs, repairing fences damaged by trees, and installing new exterior doors. To participate, residents must own and occupy their homes and provide photos of the necessary repairs. Homeowners are responsible for hiring their own licensed and insured contractors. Council members then review the applications with the residents to determine which repairs are most critical.

The program has already assisted 14 households in about a year, and organizers plan to help at least 20 households before the funds are exhausted. The program addresses the financial gap for seniors on fixed incomes who cannot afford high repair costs. For example, one resident received help after facing a roof repair estimate of nearly $15,000. Volunteers completed the work at that resident's home in approximately four hours.

The council will continue to accept applications until the city grant money runs out.